Rolled material dispenser

ABSTRACT

A roll material dispenser comprises a central roll holding portion defining a feed slot and one or more support/cutting leg portions to provide a cutting edge for cutting dispensed material from said roll. The legs and central portion can define an omega shape in cross section, and the support/cutting legs can have equal or different angles defined.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates to dispensers for rolled materials, such as kitchen foil, wax paper, plastic wrap, paper used in drawing and the like, and more particularly to a dispenser for rolled material, allowing variable size sheets of material to be dispensed.

Many materials are provided in rolled form, such as tracing/drawing paper, kitchen foil, plastic wrap, wax paper, to name a few. Users of these materials will dispense an amount of material from the roll until a desired length has been reached, and then will cut the material to provide a material sheet of desired length.

Many of the dispensers in use today leave a user desiring a better dispenser, one that will allow the roll to be stored easily, but readily available for dispensing and use when needed.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the disclosure, a rolled material dispenser comprises and omega shaped dispenser holding the rolled material in the central feed slot portion defined by the omega shape, enabling dispensing and tearing or severing of the rolled material by use of the rip edge of one of the legs of the omega shape as a cutting/tearing edge.

The subject matter of the present technology is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of this specification. However, both the organization and method of operation, together with further advantages and embodiments thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an end view of the rolled material dispenser in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rolled material dispenser of FIG. 1 next to a roll of material;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the rolled material dispenser with the roll of material installed therein;

FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the rolled material dispenser with the roll of material installed therein; and

FIG. 5 is a series of perspective views of the rolled material dispenser with a roll of material installed therein, illustrating the dispensing process;

FIG. 6 is a series of perspective views of the rolled material dispenser with a roll of material installed therein, showing the configuration as the roll of material becomes smaller as a result of dispensing material therefrom; and

FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of the configuration of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The system according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure comprises an omega shaped dispenser receiving the rolled material in the center thereof, and the support leg portions operating as cutting/separating members for tearing or cutting the rolled material once a desired length has been dispensed. The configuration results in there always being a tab of material left outside the feed slot so that the device is ‘primed’ and always ready to dispense additional material.

Referring to FIG. 1, an end view of the rolled material dispenser in accordance with an embodiment, the dispenser 10 comprises an elongate tubular body 12 having support leg portions 14, 16 substantially co-extensive with the extent of the length of the tubular body, the support leg portions being substantially flat flanges extending outwardly from a base region of the tubular body at an angle thereto. A narrow central feed slot 18 is defined along the bottom extent of the tubular body, forming a material dispensing opening, wherein the material is dispensed through the bottom of the device. The width of the opening defined is suitably less than the minimum diameter of a roll of material once the roll has been completely dispensed.

The tubular body and support leg portions are suitably made of a sheet metal or alternatively a plastic or other material that is amenable to providing a substantially rigid form in the illustrated or other shape. The general shape of the device in the particular embodiment in cross section is that of an omega. An optional cutting edge 20 may be provided along the outer edge of leg 16 (and/or leg 14), for example in the form of a serrated cutter or other cutting edge. The configuration of the cutting edge, whether serrated or straight, and degree of sharpness can be modified depending on the type of rolled material in use and the requirements to cut or separate the material from the roll for that particular material. The cutting edge can be formed as a portion of the outer edge of the leg 14/16 or as a separate cutting member attached to the lower (or upper) surface of the leg as in the illustration.

The support leg portions 14, 16 are defined to form an angle 22 off of the horizontal axis 24, the angle suitably being between 0 and 90 degrees, optimal values ranging from 5 to 15 degrees, suitably 15 degrees in the illustrated embodiment. While the illustrated embodiment has the same angle for both support leg portions, alternative embodiments employ different angles for the 2 legs, to provide different cutting/tearing characteristics which different rolled materials may require for optimal separation of the material from the roll. The support leg portions are splayed to an acute angle relative the ripping motion discussed below, this acute angle also resulting in “spread” legs for support.

Referring to FIG. 2, a perspective view of the rolled material dispenser 12 of FIG. 1 next to a roll of material 26, the length dimension 28 of the dispenser 12 is at least as long as the length dimension 30 of a given roll of material, and typically will be longer, so as to allow for movement of the roll of material end-to-end inside the dispenser, while still providing effective cutting.

Now referring to FIG. 3, a perspective view of the rolled material dispenser with the roll of material installed therein, in use, the roll of material is inserted into the dispenser by lengthwise insertion of the roll along axis 32 into the central portion of the dispenser, with the leading edge tab of material 34 positioned through the feed slot 18 to extend outwardly along one of the support leg portions 14 or 16. In use, once the rolled material is installed in the dispenser, the dispenser may be set on a desk or other surface 36, providing storage of the rolled material until ready for use. The dispenser holds the roll of material securely so that it does not roll away and/or become unrolled until it is desired to dispense a portion of the rolled material.

FIG. 4, a bottom perspective view of the rolled material dispenser with the roll of material installed therein, illustrates the positioning of the leading edge tab 34 of the rolled material once the roll is installed in the dispenser, with the particular illustration showing the leading edge tab 34 positioned to dispense underneath support leg 16.

With reference now to FIG. 5, which shows a series of perspective views of the rolled material dispenser with a roll of material installed therein, the dispensing process may be better understood.

First, a length of material 38 is drawn off the material roll in the direction of arrow 40, until a desired length of material extends beyond the distal edge of support leg 16.

Next, a user may optionally press downwardly on the dispenser toward the surface 36 in the direction of axis 42, while pulling an end of the dispensed material upwardly and away from the dispenser, resulting in a cut edge 44 forming from interaction of the material and the edge of the respective support leg portion or cutting edge causing the material to cut or tear away from the rest of the material roll. The user continues pulling along the width of the material until the cut edge 44 extends the width of the material, allowing the material to become completely separated from the material roll. The resulting separated sheet 46 may then be used for its intended purpose, while the rest of the roll of material remains, primed for another dispensing operation with the leading edge tab 34 in position to be grasped for a next dispensing.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a series of perspective views of the rolled material dispenser with a roll of material installed therein, showing the configuration as the roll of material becomes smaller as a result of dispensing material therefrom, and FIG. 7, a bottom perspective view of the configurations of FIG. 6, three separate example material rolls with various degrees of material remaining on the rolls are shown, wherein it may be observed that full roll 26, partially dispensed roll 26′ and more fully dispensed roll 26″ all remain in a position substantially centered about the position of feed slot 18 by operation of gravity, regardless of the amount of material that remains on the roll. Since the width of the feed slot is less than the diameter of the roll core, the roll remains within the center of the dispenser throughout the dispensing until the roll of material has been completely dispensed or until the roll of material is replaced with a different roll of material.

Accordingly, an improved rolled material dispenser is shown and described. To summarize the operation, the configuration allows feeding of the rolled material through the feed slot underneath one of the support legs. The feed slot is narrow, which lets the feed tab through, yet allows support of the roll of material thereabove.

The preferred embodiment of the dispenser is symmetrical about its vertical center axis, and the roll of material remains centered about the feed slot regardless of the size of the roll of remaining material, as the material is used up.

Once a desired amount of material is dispensed the outer edge of one of the support legs, which may have a cutting configuration, in conjunction with the surface on which the dispenser is resting, holds the material in place during the tearing motion, to separate the material from the roll.

The roll bottom sits on and holds the feed tab in place while the device is at rest, awaiting subsequent dispensing/tearing operations. The roll feed slot and feed tab are aligned downward to utilize gravity to: 1) center the roll about the feed slot; 2) have the roll act as a weight on the feed tab to hold it in place while the device is at rest awaiting use; and 3) prevent the feed tab from retracting into the center of the dispenser.

While a preferred embodiment of the technology has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the broader aspects. The appended claims are therefore intended to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the technology. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A rolled material dispenser comprising: a roll material holding member for receiving the rolled material therein; a feed slot defined in the roll material holding member for enabling an end of the rolled material to extend therethrough; and at least one roll material support/cutting leg member attached to the roll material holding member for defining a cutting edge for separating an extended portion of the rolled material from the remainder of the roll, said roll material support/cutting leg member defining an angle from a horizontal angle relative to a dispensing opening.
 2. The rolled material dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said feed slot defines an opening of dimension less than a minimum diameter of the rolled material.
 3. The rolled material dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said at least one roll material support/cutting leg member defines an angle of between 5 and 50 degrees from the horizontal angle relative to the dispensing opening.
 4. The rolled material dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said at least one roll material support/cutting leg member defines an angle of 15 degrees from the horizontal angle relative to the dispensing opening.
 5. The rolled material dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said rolled material is selected from the group consisting of foil, paper, plastic wrap and wax paper.
 6. The rolled material dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said rolled material remains centered at the feed slot during use.
 7. The rolled material dispenser according to claim 1, comprising two said roll material support/cutting leg members.
 8. The rolled material dispenser according to claim 7, wherein said roll material holding member and said roll material support/cutting leg members define an omega shape in cross section.
 9. A method of dispensing a rolled material comprising: providing a roll material holding member for receiving the rolled material therein; providing a feed slot in the roll material holding member for passing of the rolled material therethrough; and at least one roll material support/cutting leg member attached to the roll material holding member for defining a cutting edge for separating an extended portion of the rolled material from the remainder of the roll, said roll material support/cutting leg member defining an angle from a horizontal angle relative to a dispensing opening.
 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said feed slot defines an opening of a dimension less than a minimum diameter of the rolled material.
 11. The method according to claim 9, wherein said at least one roll material support/cutting leg member defines an angle of between 5 and 50 degrees from the horizontal angle relative to the dispensing opening.
 12. The method according to claim 9, wherein said at least one roll material support/cutting leg member defines an angle of 15 degrees from the horizontal angle relative to the dispensing opening.
 13. The method according to claim 9, wherein said rolled material is selected from the group consisting of foil, paper, plastic wrap and wax paper.
 14. The method according to claim 9, wherein said rolled material remains centered at the dispensing slot during use.
 15. The method according to claim 9, comprising providing two said roll material support/cutting leg members.
 16. The method according to claim 15, comprising providing said roll material holding member and said roll material support/cutting leg members to define an omega shape in cross section.
 17. A rolled material dispenser comprising: a central roll material holding member for receiving the rolled material therein; a dispensing feed slot defined in the central roll material holding member for enabling the rolled material to unroll from the roll and be dispensed from the roll material holding member, said roll of rolled material remaining centered at the dispensing feed slot during a dispensing operation; and two roll material cutting leg members attached to the roll material holding member for defining support legs to hold said central roll material holding member in a position relative to a surface and for defining cutting edges for separating an extended portion of the rolled material from the remainder of the roll, said roll material cutting leg members defining an angle of between 5 and 50 degrees from a horizontal angle relative to a dispensing opening.
 18. The rolled material dispenser according to claim 17, wherein said central roll material holding member and said two roll material cutting leg members define an omega shape in cross section.
 19. The rolled material dispenser according to claim 17, wherein a first of said two roll material cutting leg members defines a first angle relative to a horizontal axis and the second of said two roll material cutting leg members defines a second angle relative to the horizontal axis.
 20. The rolled material dispenser according to claim 19, wherein said first angle comprises 15 degrees. 